Slow-closing faucet



E. G. WATROUS.

SLOW CLOSING FAUCET. l APPLICATION FILED APR. 5` 1915.

01,327,000. Patented 5311.5,1920

UNirED srnfrns vrrgrnn'r ornion.

EARL G. VVATROUS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SLOW-CLOSING FAUCE'I.

Application filed April 5,

To ciZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Emu. G. VATROUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Slow-Closing Faucets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a lavatory fixture of the slow-closing type and the object thereof is to provide a simple and efficient construction of slow-closing valve mechanism including' a new construction of piston and piston ring used in such mechanism and adapted to overcome the objections and diiiiculties encountered in use of slow-closing valve mechanisms, particularly in connection with hot water faucets.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a section partly in elevation of a faucet embodying my invention; Fig. 2 a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a section taken on the line 3 3 of the upper portion of the piston structure and showing the top of the piston chamber in plan; Fig. 4 a side elevation of the piston; Fig. 5 a plan view of the piston ring` and Fig. 6 an edge view thereof.

Referring to the present embodiment of my invention, the faucet comprises the body 1 having the usual spout or discharge 2 and inlet connection 3. In the present instance the body portion or casing is formed in several sections including the top shell or casing 4 and an intermediate shell or casing 5, which three parts are secured together in any suitable manner. W'ithin the casing there is arranged the slow-closing valve mechanism and the valve for governing the passage of the water from the inlet 3 to the discharge 2, the same comprising a casing 6 in which is formed a water inlet chamber 7, an outlet chamber 8 and a piston chamber 9. The chambers 7 and 8 are connected by an inlet opening 10 which is governed by means of a valve 11, the chamber S communicating with the discharge 2 of the faucet.

The valve 11 is carried at the end of a piston rod or stem 12 secured in a central bore of a piston 13. This piston has connected to its' upper side, preferably in a flexible manner, a plunger 14 extending through a top cylinder head or cap 15 whose extended tubular portion or boss 16 forms a bearing therefor. The upper end of this plunger is connected to the depressible cap or button piece 17 between which and the cylinder head is interposed a coiled spring Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

1915. serial No. 19,155.

18 adapted to hold the plunger and consequently the piston in its upward position.

The piston stem 12 is provided with transverse ports 19 and a longitudinal passage 20 communicating with the central bore of the piston and with the upper end of the piston chamber through the annular space around the lower end of the plunger 14.

The escape or leakage of the water from the upper end of the piston chamber is through a restricted port 21 in the cylinder cap or head 15 and thence downwardly through the passage 22 between the outer wall of the piston chamber and the inner wall of the casing to the discharge 2. The degree of restriction of the port 21 is determined by the adjustable screw 23. A suitable check valve such as the ball 24 is provided in the passage through the center of the piston.

Referring to the speciiic construction of the piston 13 and the packing ring thereof, the piston is cut away on its upper side to form two annular surfaces or shoulders of different diameters. Upon the shoulder of the larger diameter is arranged an expansion piston ring 25 which, as shown in Fig. 5, is a split ring of eccentric shape, that is to say, one side of the ring is wider than the other side, the split-side being of the lesser width. This ring is made of non-corrodible material which is unaffected by hot water and the material preferably employed is hard rubber. This ring is expanded to it the inner walls of the piston chamber by means of a split ring shaped wire 26 whose y adjacent ends 26a are turned at right angles into slots 2. a at the meeting' ends of the piston ring. It will be understood that the spring 26 is positioned inside of the piston ring and around the central reduced portion of the piston as clearly shown in Fig. 2. v By preference, the ring is provided on one side with a pin 25b whose lower end .enters a socket in the piston, as shown in Fig. 1, with the result that any possibility of the turning of the ring is avoided.

An annular plate or ring 27 fits upon the t-op face of the piston ring and the same is held thereagainst with yielding pressure by means of a spring 28 interposed between it and the under side of the removable cap 29 which is screwed upon the upper reduced portion of the piston. The top of the piston is provided with' a tranverse slot 13a in which fits the cross pin 3() passing transversely through the lower endV of the plunger 14, such pin being held in its place by means of the cap 29 which is screwed onto the piston until it comes into contact with the top face thereof. Describing the operation, the parts are in closed position in Fig. 1 and assuming that it is desired to admit water through the faucet the buttonl 17 is depressed thereby forcing the plunger 14 and piston 13 downwardly and forcing the valve 11 frpm its seat to open communication from the water inlet through the port 10, chamber 8 to the discharge 2. As the piston is depressed the water present in the lower end of the piston chamber 9 is forced upwardly past the ball valve and through the piston to the upper end of the piston chamber'. The water under pressure leaks past the piston stem 12 and into the lower end of the piston chamber, the pressure of which water together with the tension of the spring 18 forces the piston upwardly at a slow rate of speed after the operator has released the button piece 17 The water in the chamber above the piston will then be. forced through the restricted port 2l where the rate of closing speed of the piston and the valve is determined. The valve will thereupon be seated to close the port 10 thereby closing olf the supply of water through the faucet.

By the use of my invention, I provide a simple and efficient form of slow-closing valve mechanism which has advantages particularly as tothe piston construction because it is comparatively simple in construction and provided with a piston ring which is unaffected by hot water and therefore always gives a proper working lit between the piston and the walls of the piston chamber for proper and eliicient operation of the parts as required in a slow-closing valve mechanism. In addition the construction described provides a flexible connection between the plunger 14 and the piston which is of advantage in assembling the parts as it renders unnecessary absolutely accurate alinement between the different sections of the fixture.

I claim:

l. In a slow closing valve mechanism the combination of a piston chamber, a piston therein having a check-valved passage through itself, a valve operated by the piston, said piston being cut away to form two annular portions of different diameters, a piston ring on the portion of the larger diameter, a flat annular plate or washer resting on the portion of the lesser diameter and bearing on the piston ring to hold it in place on the piston, a plunger cooperating with the piston, a cap secured to the piston and cooperating with the washer and with the plunger, and a spring between the cap and washer.

2. In a slow closing valve mechanism, the combination of a piston chamber, a piston therein having a checkvalved passage through itself, a valve operated by the piston, a cap having a central opening registering with said passage and secured to the piston, a hand-operated plunger extending into said opening and passage, and a pin passing transversely through said plunger and conined bel-ow the cap.

3. In a slow closing Valve mechanism, the combination of a piston chamber, a piston therein having a checlvalved passage through itself and a diametrical groove on its top surface, a valve operated by the piston, a cap having a central opening registering with said passage and fitted onto the top of said pist-on, a hand-operated plunger whose lower end extends through said opening and into said passage, and a pin passing transversely through the lower end of the plunger and received by said groove.

EARL G. 'WATROUS Witnesses:

MARGUERITE VVARRINER, ROBERT DOBBERMAN. 

